Wireless communication apparatus and control method thereof

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes: a first communication unit which receives a video signal from an image device; a video processor which processes the video signal; a second communication unit establishes a wireless connection with another device; and a controller receives wireless connection information from the image device through the first communication unit, and controls the second communication unit to establish the wireless connection with the other device based on the received wireless connection information.

This is a reissue application of U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,208, which wasfiled as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/353,709 on Jan. 19, 2012and issued on Nov. 4, 2014, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0062582, filed on Jun. 28, 2011 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toa wireless communication apparatus and a control method thereof, andmore particularly to a wireless communication apparatus connecting withat least one peripheral device and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

An electronic device such as a television (TV), a monitor, a portableterminal, etc., displays an image based on a video signal. Such anelectronic device may connect with at least one peripheral device. Forexample, the peripheral device may include a digital versatile disc(DVD) player, a BluRay disc (BD) player, a set-top box, a personalcomputer (PC), a camcorder, a portable terminal, etc.

Various connections are possible between the electronic device and theperipheral devices, and one of them is a connection using a wirelessnetwork (hereinafter, an electronic device connected through thewireless network will also be referred to as a “wireless communicationapparatus”). Examples of a wireless network connection mode include aninfrastructure mode, an ad-hoc mode, a Digital Living Network Alliancemode, etc.

However, the wireless network connection modes are regulated to connectthe devices in accordance with their own characteristic procedures. Itis therefore not only difficult for an unfamiliar user to connect thedisplay device with the peripheral devices, but also inconvenient for auser to manually connect such devices via any given connection mode evenif the user knows the connection mode.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments address at least the above problems and/ordisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. However, anexemplary embodiments is not required to overcome the disadvantagesdescribed above, and an exemplary embodiment may not overcome any of theproblems described above.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided awireless communication apparatus which communicates with an imagedevice, the apparatus including: a first communication unit whichreceives a video signal from the image device; a video processor whichprocesses the video signal; a second communication unit establishes awireless connection with another device; and a controller receiveswireless connection information from the image device through the firstcommunication unit, and controls the second communication unit toestablish the wireless connection with the other device based on thereceived wireless connection information.

The other device may be the image device.

The wireless connection may include a connection with a wireless router.

The controller may determine a wireless connection mode based on thewireless connection information, and controls the second communicationunit to establish the wireless connection with the other device based onthe determined wireless connection mode.

The wireless connection mode may include one of an infrastructure mode,an ad-hoc mode, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct mode, and a DigitalLiving Network Alliance (DLNA) mode.

The wireless connection information may include at least one of a deviceidentification, a security key and a security type.

The controller may display a graphical user interface (GUI), whichincludes information for establishing the wireless connection on adisplay unit.

The wireless communication apparatus may further include a user inputunit which receives a user's input, wherein the controller controls toestablish the wireless connection in accordance with the received user'sinput.

The first communication unit may communicate based on a high-definitionmultimedia interface-consumer electronics control (HDMI-CEC) standard.

The first communication unit may communicate based on a universal serialbus (USB) standard.

The wireless communication apparatus may further include a display unitwhich displays an image based on the video signal processed by the videoprocessor.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided acontrol method of a wireless communication apparatus that communicateswith an image device and displays an image based on a video signal, themethod including: receiving wireless connection information through afirst communication unit configured to receive the video signal from theimage device; and establishing a wireless connection through a secondcommunication unit based on the received wireless connectioninformation.

The establishing of the wireless connection may include establishing thewireless connection with the image device.

The establishing of the wireless connection may include establishing thewireless connection with a wireless router to which the image device isconnected.

The establishing of the wireless connection may include determining awireless connection mode based on the wireless connection information;and establishing the wireless connection via the determined wirelessconnection mode.

The wireless connection mode may include one of an infrastructure mode,an ad-hoc mode, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct mode, and a DigitalLiving Network Alliance (DLNA) mode.

The wireless connection information may include at least one of a deviceidentification, a security key and a security type.

The method may further include displaying a GUI, which includesinformation regarding establishing the wireless connection.

The method may further include receiving a user's input, wherein theestablishing of the wireless connection comprises establishing thewireless connection in accordance with the received user's input.

The first communication unit may communicate based on an HDMI-CECstandard.

The first communication unit may communicate based on USB standard.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided awireless communication apparatus which communicates with at least oneimage device, the apparatus including: a communication unit whichreceives a video signal from the at least one image device; a videoprocessor which processes the video signal; and a controller whichreceives wireless connection information from the at least one imagedevice through the communication unit, determines a wireless connectionmode based on the received wireless connection information, and controlsa wireless connection to be established based on the determined wirelessconnection mode.

Based on the wireless connection information received from a first imagedevice from among the at least one image device, the controller maycontrol the wireless connection to be established with a second imagedevice from among the at least one image device.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided acontrol method of a wireless communication apparatus, the methodincluding: receiving wireless connection information through acommunication unit configured to receive a video signal from at leastone image device; determining a wireless connection mode based on thereceived wireless connection information; and establishing a wirelessconnection via the determined wireless connection mode.

The establishing of the wireless connection may include establishing thewireless connection with a second image device from among the at leastone image device based on the wireless connection information receivedfrom a first image device from among the at least one image device.

The image device may include one of a digital versatile disc (DVD)player, a BluRay disc (BD) player, a set-top box, a personal computer, acamcorder and a portable terminal.

The wireless connection may include a connection with a wireless router.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a display device according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the display device, examples of whichare shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations of the display device, examplesof which are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the operations of thedisplay device, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 6 shows a GUI for ascertaining whether wireless connection issucceeded according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a display device according to another exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the display device, examples of whichare shown in FIGS. 7 and 8; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operations of the display device,examples of which are shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail. FIGS. 1 and 2show a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. The displaydevice 1 may be achieved by a television (TV), a monitor, a portableterminal, etc., but not limited thereto. The display device 1 mayinclude any device which can display an image based on a video signal.The display device 1 is an example of a wireless communicationapparatus.

The display device 1 connects with the peripheral device such as animage device 3. The image device 3 may include a digital versatile disc(DVD) player, a BluRay disc (BD) player, a set-top box, a personalcomputer (PC), a camcorder, a portable terminal, etc. The peripheraldevice connected to the display device 1 is not limited to the imagedevice 3. Also, the number of image devices 3 connected to the displaydevice 1 is not limited to one device. Two or more image devices may beconnected to the display device 1.

The display device 1 and the image device 3 may form a wireless network(hereinafter, referred to as “wireless connection”). As an example of awireless network connection mode (hereinafter, referred to as a“wireless connection mode”) in this exemplary embodiment, there are aninfrastructure mode, an ad-hoc mode, a DLNA mode, etc. Through thiswireless connection mode, the display device 1 and the image device 3may connect with each other directly as shown in FIG. 1, for example, orthrough a wireless router 5 as shown in another example as in FIG. 2.

The display device 1 and the image device 3 may connect with each othernot only wirelessly, but also through a predetermined interface fortransmitting a video signal and/or an audio signal (hereinafter,referred to as a “video signal”). In this exemplary embodiment, aninterface mode between the display device 1 and the image device 3 mayinclude high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) or an HDMI-consumerelectronics control (CEC).

The display device 1 receives information for a wireless connection(hereinafter, referred to as “wireless connection information”) from theimage device 3 through the interface for transmitting a video signal,and performs the wireless connection based on the received wirelessconnection information. For example, the wireless connection of anexemplary embodiment includes connection between the display device 1and the image device 3 or connection between the display device 1 andthe wireless router 3 as described above. The wireless connectioninformation in this exemplary embodiment corresponds to each foregoingwireless connection mode, and contains information needed for a wirelessconnection in accordance with procedures regulated by these modes. Forexample, the wireless connection information may include informationabout at least one of whether the image device 3 is mounted with awireless adapter, a supportable wireless connection mode (i.e., whetherthe image device 3 supports the ad-hoc mode), and a current networkconfiguration state (i.e., whether the image device 3 connects with awireless router, a DLNA server or the like). For example, the wirelessconnection information may also contain at least one of deviceidentification (ID) of the image device 3, a security key and a securitytype.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the display device 1 shown in FIGS. 1and 2. As shown therein, the display device 1 includes a firstcommunication unit 11, a video processor 12, a display unit 13, a secondcommunication unit 14, and a controller 15. The term “unit” as usedherein means a hardware component, such as a processor or circuit,and/or a software component that is executed by a hardware componentsuch as a processor.

The first communication unit 11 communicates with the image device 3through an interface for transmitting a video signal. The firstcommunication unit 11 receives wireless connection information from theimage device 3.

The video processor 12 performs video processing for displaying an imagebased on a video signal received through the first communication unit11. The video processor 12 may perform decoding, scaling, imageenhancing, etc.

The display unit 13 displays an image based on a video signal processedby the video processor 12. For example, the display unit 13 may displayan image by at least one type among various display types such as aliquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), projection,an organic light emitting diode (OLED), etc.

The second communication unit 14 performs wireless communication for awireless network connection. The second communication unit 14corresponds to each wireless connection mode, and performs operationsneeded for a wireless connection in accordance with procedures regulatedby these modes. The second communication unit 14 performs communicationfor a wireless connection based on the wireless connection informationreceived from the image device 3 under control of the controller 15.

The controller 15 generally controls the display device 1. Thecontroller 15 controls the first communication unit 11, the videoprocessor 12 and the display unit 13 to display an image based on avideo signal.

The controller 15 receives wireless connection information from theimage device 3 through the first communication unit 11, and controls thesecond communication unit 14 to perform wireless connection based on thereceived wireless connection information. The controller 15 may includea non-volatile memory (not shown) where a control program for performingthe above control is stored, a volatile memory (not shown) where thecontrol program is at least partially loaded, and a microprocessor (notshown) that executes the loaded program.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations of the display device 1 shownin FIGS. 1 to 3. For convenience of description, suppose that thedisplay device 1 is not connected to a wireless network yet.

First, at operation 41, the display device 1 receives wirelessconnection information from the image device 3 through the firstcommunication unit 11. For example, if the display device 1 connectswith the image device 3 through an HDMI cable, the display device 1performs a discovery algorithm through the HDMI-CEC and receives thewireless connection information from the image device 3.

Then, at operation 42, the display device 1 performs wireless connectionthrough the second communication unit 14 on the basis of the wirelessconnection information received from the image device 3 through thefirst communication unit 11.

In the case of a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct connection as anexample of the above-mentioned wireless connection modes, the displaydevice 1 sends the image device 3 a command of request for the Wi-Fidirect connection, and the image device 3 receiving the command enters agroup formation procedure. Also, the display device 1 outputting thecommand starts the group formation procedure for the Wi-Fi directconnection. When the group formation procedure is completed, the Wi-Fidirection connection between the display device 1 and the image device 3is automatically achieved through a provisioning procedure; in which thedisplay device 1 and the image device 3 exchange a Wi-Fi credential witheach other through Wi-Fi simple config (WSC) and achieve Wi-Ficonnection. The procedure of establishing a wireless connection is notlimited to the above exemplary embodiment, and may be carried outvariously in accordance with each of the wireless connection modesmentioned above.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the operations of thedisplay device 1 shown FIGS. 1 to 3.

First, at operation 51, the display device 1 receives wirelessconnection information from the image device 3 through the firstcommunication unit 11.

Then, at operation 52, the display device 1 determines a wirelessconnection mode to be performed through the second communication unit 14based on the wireless connection information received from the imagedevice 3 through the first communication unit 11. That is, the displaydevice 1 analyzes the received wireless connection information, andgrasps a current wireless network state, thereby determining a properwireless connection mode. For example, the determined wirelessconnection mode may be one of the infrastructure mode, the ad-hoc mode,the Wi-Fi direct connection mode, the DLNA mode, etc. as describedabove. Further, if the image device 3 is connected to the wirelessrouter 5 but the display device 1 is not connected to the wirelessrouter 5, it may be determined to connect the display device 1 and thewireless router 5 to achieve the infrastructure mode. However, this ismerely an example. Alternatively, the determination of the wirelessconnection mode based on the wireless connection information may bevaried depending on the current wireless network state.

Next, at operation 53, the display device 1 asks a user whether to carryout the wireless connection based on the determined wireless connectionmode. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the display device 1 may displaya graphic user interface 6, which includes information for allowing auser to confirm whether to carry out the wireless connection, on thedisplay unit 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 1 may furtherinclude a user input unit 16 for receiving a user's input about whetherto carry out the wireless connection.

Referring back to FIG. 5, at operation 54, if there is a user'sconfirmation, the display device 1 performs the wireless communicationbased on the determined wireless connection mode through the secondcommunication unit 14.

Thus, in the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment, thewireless connection is automatically established based on the wirelessconnection information received from the image device 3, therebyimproving a user's convenience. That is, a user can establish thewireless network between the devices even though she has no priorknowledge about the network or the devices. It is therefore moreconvenient, and time taken during the wireless connection procedures maybe reduced.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a display device according to another exemplaryembodiment. Regarding the display device 1 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,repetitive descriptions to the display device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6will be avoided.

The display device 1 connects with a plurality of image devices 3a and3b through an interface for transmitting a video signal. The pluralityof image devices 3a and 3b may wirelessly connect with each other. Thedisplay device 1 receives wireless connection information from one(e.g., image device 3a) of the plurality of image devices 3a and 3b, andtransmits it to the other one (e.g., image device 3b), therebyestablishing the wireless connection of the image device 3b.

For example, the image device 3b and the image device 3a may beconnected in the ad-hoc mode as shown in FIG. 7, or through the wirelessrouter 5 in the infrastructure mode as shown in FIG. 8. Of course, thisis merely an example. Alternatively, the image device 3b and the imagedevice 3a may be connected in another wireless connection mode such asan ad-hoc mode of the Wi-Fi direct standards, the DLNA mode, etc.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the display device shown in FIGS. 7and 8. As shown in FIG. 9, the display device 1 includes a communicationunit 11a, an video processor 12, a display unit 13 and a controller 15.The communication unit 11a communicates with a plurality of imagedevices 3a and 3b through an interface for transmitting a video signal.The communication unit 11a receives wireless connection information fromone 3a among the plurality of image devices 3a and 3b under control ofthe controller 15, and transmits it to the other one 3b. The controller15 receives the wireless connection information from the image device 3athrough the communication unit 11a, and transmits the received wirelessconnection information to the image device 3b, thereby controlling thewireless connection for the image device 3b to be established.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operations of the display device 1 shownin FIGS. 7 to 9. First, at operation 101, the display device 1 requeststhe image device 3a to send the wireless connection information throughthe communication unit 11a, and thus receives the wireless connectioninformation from the image device 3a.

Then, at operation 102, the display device 1 determines a wirelessconnection mode to be established for the image device 3b on the basisof the wireless connection information received from the image device 3athrough the communication unit 11a.

Next, at operation 103, the display device 1 carries out the wirelessconnection of the image device 3b in accordance with the determinedwireless connection mode. That is, the display device 1 transmits thewireless connection information received from the image device 3a to theimage device 3b. The image device 3b performs the wireless connectionbased on the received wireless connection information.

As described above, it may be possible to more easily perform thewireless network connection with at least one peripheral device.

Also, the wireless network connection is performed by receiving thewireless network information from the device connected through theHDMI-CED for transmitting a video signal, the USB for universalcommunication, etc., and therefore there is no need of a separateconfiguration for an automatic wireless connection, thereby simplifyingconfiguration and reducing cost.

Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be madein these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles andspirit of the present inventive concept.

For example, if the plural image devices are connected to the wirelessrouter 5, and are capable of sharing content through the DLNA mode onthe basis of the received wireless connection information, the displaydevice 1 asks a user whether to activate a DLNA connection between thedevices and allows content to be automatically shared between thedevices. In this case, the display device 1 sends a message for drivinga DLNA server to the image device providing content, so that the displaydevice 1 can become a DLNA client. Also, such share of the content maybe achieved in another wireless connection mode such as the ad-hoc modeor the like.

Also, the display device may connect with a peripheral device by auniversal communication standard such as a USB standard or the like, aswell as the HDMI-CEC standard for transmitting the video signalaccording to the foregoing exemplary embodiment, so that it can receiveinformation for the wireless network connection through the universalcommunication standard.

Further, the foregoing exemplary embodiment illustrates only the displaydevice 1 as a wireless communication device, but is not limited thereto.Alternatively, the foregoing exemplary embodiments may be applied to anyelectronic device having a wireless communication function.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication apparatus whichcommunicates configured to communicate with an image device, thewireless communication apparatus comprising: a first communication unitwhich has a wired connection with the image device and receives, thefirst communication unit configured to receive a video signal andwireless connection information from the image device, wherein the firstcommunication unit is implemented by a first hardware circuit; a videoprocessor which processes configured to process the video signal; asecond communication unit which wirelessly communicates configured towirelessly communicate with another device, wherein the secondcommunication unit is implemented by a second hardware circuit; and acontroller controls configured to control the second communication unitto communicate with the another device to establish a wirelessconnection of at least two from among at least two of the wirelesscommunication apparatus, the image device and the another device basedon the received wireless connection information through the firstcommunication unit, wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor,wherein the controller determines is further configured to determine awireless connection mode based on the wireless connection informationaccording to a current wireless network state, and controls to controlthe second communication unit to communicate with the another device toestablish the wireless connection based on the determined wirelessconnection mode.
 2. The wireless communication apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the another device is the image device.
 3. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wirelessconnection comprises a connection with a wireless router.
 4. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thewireless connection mode comprises one of an infrastructure mode, anad-hoc mode, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct mode, and a DigitalLiving Network Alliance (DLNA) mode.
 5. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wireless connectioninformation comprises at least one of a device identification, asecurity key and a security type.
 6. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller displays isconfigured to display a graphical user interface (GUI), which includesinformation for establishing the wireless connection on a display unit.7. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a user input unit which receives a user's input, wherein thecontroller controls is configured to establish the wireless connectionin accordance with the received user's input.
 8. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the firstcommunication unit communicates is configured to communicate based on ahigh-definition multimedia interface-consumer electronics control(HDMI-CEC) standard.
 9. The wireless communication apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the first communication unit communicates isconfigured to communicate based on a universal serial bus (USB)standard.
 10. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a display unit which displays is configured todisplay an image based on the video signal processed by the videoprocessor.
 11. A control method of a wireless communication apparatusthat communicates with an image device and displays an image based on avideo signal, the method comprising: receiving wireless connectioninformation and the video signal through a first communication unitconfigured to have a wired connection with the image device from theimage device; communicating with another device through a secondcommunication unit configured to have a wireless connection with theanother device to establish a wireless connection of at least two fromamong at least two of the wireless communication apparatus, the imagedevice and the another device based on the received wireless connectioninformation through the first communication unit; determining a wirelessconnection mode based on the wireless connection information accordingto a current wireless network state; and establishing the wirelessconnection through the second communication unit based on the determinedwireless connection mode.
 12. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe establishing of the wireless connection comprises establishing thewireless connection with the image device.
 13. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the establishing of the wireless connection comprisesestablishing the wireless connection with a wireless router to which theimage device is connected.
 14. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe wireless connection mode comprises one of an infrastructure mode, anad-hoc mode, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct mode, and a DigitalLiving Network Alliance (DLNA) mode.
 15. The method according to claim11, wherein the wireless connection information comprises at least oneof a device identification, a security key and a security type.
 16. Themethod according to claim 11, further comprising displaying a graphicaluser interface (GUI), which includes information regarding establishingthe wireless connection.
 17. The method according to claim 11, furthercomprising receiving a user's input, wherein the establishing of thewireless connection comprises establishing the wireless connection inaccordance with the received user's input.
 18. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the receiving comprises receiving through the firstcommunication unit communicates based on a high-definition multimediainterface-consumer electronics control (HDMI-CEC) standard.
 19. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises receivingthrough the first communication unit communicates based on universalserial bus (USB) standard.
 20. A wireless communication apparatus whichcommunicates configured to communicate with at least one image device,the wireless communication apparatus comprising: a first communicationunit which has implemented by a first hardware circuit configured tohave a wired connection with the at least one image device and receivesto receive a video signal and wireless connection information from theat least one image device; a second communication unit implemented by asecond hardware circuit configured to have a wireless communication; avideo processor which processes configured to process the video signal;and a controller determines configured to determine a wirelessconnection mode based on the received wireless connection informationreceived through the first communication unit, and controls a to controlthe second communication unit to establish the wireless connection to beestablished based on the determined wireless connection mode, whereinthe controller comprises a microprocessor.
 21. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 20, wherein, based on thewireless connection information received from a first image device fromamong the at least one image device, the controller controls isconfigured to control the second communication unit to establish thewireless connection to be established with a second image device fromamong the at least one image device.
 22. A control method of a wirelesscommunication apparatus configured to communicate with at least oneimage device, the method comprising: receiving wireless connectioninformation and a video signal from the at least one image devicethrough a first communication unit implemented by a first hardwarecircuit configured to have a wired connection with the at least oneimage device and receive the video signal from the at least one imagedevice; determining a wireless connection mode based on the receivedwireless connection information received through the first communicationunit; and establishing a wireless connection via based on the determinedwireless connection mode through a second communication unit implementedby a second hardware circuit configured to have the wirelesscommunication.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein theestablishing of the wireless connection comprises establishing thewireless connection with a second image device from among the at leastone image device based on the wireless connection information receivedfrom a first image device from among the at least one image device. 24.The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theimage device includes one of a digital versatile disc (DVD) player, aBluRay disc (BD) player, a set-top box, a personal computer, a camcorderand a portable terminal.
 25. The wireless communication apparatusaccording to claim 24, wherein the wireless connection comprises aconnection with a wireless router.
 26. A wireless communicationapparatus comprising: a communication unit first hardware communicationcircuit configured to communicate with a first device connected with asecond device; a second hardware communication circuit configured tocommunicate wirelessly; and a controller implemented by a processorconfigured to receive, from the second first device, information forwireless communication with the second device in a predeterminedwireless communication mode through the first hardware communicationcircuit and to control the communication unit second hardwarecommunication circuit to establish the a wireless connection with thesecond device based on the received information for wirelesscommunication received from the first device through the first hardwarecommunication circuit.
 27. The wireless communication apparatusaccording to claim 26, wherein the communication unit comprises: a firstcommunication unitthe first hardware communication circuit is configuredto have a wired connection and communicate with the first device; and asecond communication unitthe second hardware communication circuit isconfigured to wirelessly communicate with the second device.
 28. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 26, wherein thecommunication unit receives first hardware communication circuit isconfigured to receive state information on the second device from thefirst device, the state information comprises information on whether towirelessly communicate with the second device, and the controllercontrols is further configured to control the communication unit secondhardware communication circuit to establish the wireless connection withthe second device based on the state information.
 29. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the predeterminedwireless communication mode comprises a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) directmode.
 30. A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a firsthardware communication circuit configured to communicate with a firstdevice connected with a second device and to receive from the firstdevice wireless connection information for wireless communication withthe second device; a second hardware communication circuit configured tocommunicate wirelessly; and a controller implemented by a processorconfigured to determine a wireless communication mode from among aplurality of wireless communication modes of the wireless communicationapparatus based on the wireless connection information and to controlthe second hardware communication circuit to establish a wirelessconnection with the second device in the determined wirelesscommunication mode based on the received wireless connection informationfor wireless communication from the first device.
 31. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the firsthardware communication circuit is configured to have a wired connectionand communicate with the first device, and the second hardwarecommunication circuit is configured to wirelessly communicate with thesecond device.
 32. The wireless communication apparatus according toclaim 30, wherein the first hardware communication circuit is configuredto receive state information on the second device from the first device,and the controller is further configured to control the second hardwarecommunication circuit to establish the wireless connection with thesecond device based on the state information.
 33. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the determinedwireless communication mode comprises a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) directmode, and the wireless connection information received from the firstdevice comprises information for the wireless connection with the seconddevice in the wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct mode.
 34. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the determinedwireless communication mode comprises a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) directmode, and the wireless connection information received from the firstdevice comprises information for the wireless connection with the seconddevice in the wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct mode.
 35. The wirelesscommunication apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the controller isconfigured to determine the wireless connection mode according to acurrent wireless network state.
 36. The method according to claim 22,wherein the determining the wireless connection mode comprisesdetermining the wireless connection mode according to a current wirelessnetwork state.